Train-signal-operating device.



No. 870,266. PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907. A,

A. L. WOOD. TRAIN SIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION TILED FEB-2841907- 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

21' 41 4 {9 6 22 I 4 l l [h 6 49 No. 870,266. 'PATENTED N'ovq5, 1907.

A. L WOOD. TRAIN SIGNAL OPERATING DEVIGE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.28. 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- 2.5" //.,1 I 7 4 5.! Suva/whoa @Q'Humwaao 2 A L WE]131:!

V r v n rim STATES ALLEN L. WOOD, OF GRAYVILLE, ILLINOIS.

TRAIN -SIGNAL-OPERATIN G DE VICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed February 28. 1907- $erial No. 359.867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN L. Woon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grayville, in the county of White and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTrain-Signal-Operating Devices; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a train signal operating device.

The object of the invention is to provide meansfor operating a lanternfrom the inside of a caboose or coach to expose a light of the desiredcolor to indicate to the engineer of a following train the positionwhich the train carrying the signal occupies, and to means for lockingsaid lantern with the desired light exposed so that it cannot be changedor tampered with except by the person having the key.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a top plan view ofthis improved operating device; Fig. 2 represents a bottom plan viewthereof; Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a coach top with aframe in which this improved operating mechanism is mounted, shown inperspective thereon; a lamp or lantern being shown in connectiontherewith with its hood removed; Fig. 4 represents a perspective view onthe hood for the lamp; Fig. 5 represents a vertical section through theoperating mechanism; Fig. 6 represents a perspective view of a lanternsupporting plate taken from the bottom; and Fig. 7 represents a sideelevation of the yoke for supporting the operating mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated, this improved signal operating device isshown mounted in a substantially rectangular frame 1 on a cross-bar 2arranged at one end thereof. This operating mechanism comprises arotatable lantern supporting plate 10 disposed on the bar 2.

and having an opening 11 in the center thereof. This plate 10 has adepending collar 11 with a cylindrical outer face which fits and turnsin a round opening in the cross-bar 2. This collar 11 has an angularopening or socket 12 extending therethrough and through the center ofthe plate 10. Extending through this socket 12 is an angular head 13 ofa shaft 14 which projects above the top of the plate for about twoinches to fit in a socket 41 in the bottom of a lantern 40. The bodyportion of this shaft below the collar 11 is shown as round, but it maybe made in any other desired shape and has its lower end reduced at 14and made in angular form to prevent its turning in the block with itsterminal screw-threaded at 15 and provided with a nut 16. On thisreduced end 14 is mounted a block 17 disposed between the shoulder 18formed at the junction of the body portion with the reduced end and thenut 16 and is held against rotation by means of its angular form.Extending from this block at diametrically opposite points are four rodsor arms 20, 21, 22 and 23 provided at their free ends with 'eyes as 20,21, 22 and 23, for a purpose hereinafter described, the ends thereofwhich engage the block being square or of other angular shape to preventthe turning thereof in the block. These rods are painted respectivelygreen, red, white, and red and white, which colors are those known byrailroad men to indicate certain positions of the train by which thesignal is carried, for instance, a red and white light exposed on thetrain carrying the signal indicates to the engineer of a following trainthat the train ahead is in motion, a red light shows that the train isstanding still, a white light indicates that the train is backing, and agreen shows that it is on the siding. Color plates as 19 are secured tothe block adjacent these rods to enable the operator to more readily seethe color.

Secured to the under side of the cross-bar 2 is a bracket 25, preferablyin the form of a U-shaped yoke through the cross-bar 26 of which theshaft 14 loosely passes and is adapted to rotate therein. To the outerface of this yoke 25 at its lower end are secured two hinged members as27 each having an eye bolt 28 proj ecting outwardly therefrom, the lowermembers or leaves of these hinges having longitudinal slots as 27therein which are adapted to fit over one of the colored rods when inlowered position and over the eye-bolt as 28 when raised, in whichpositions they may be locked by a padlock 30 or other suitable devicethrough the eye of the rod or bolt with which the slotted hinged memberis engaged. These colored rods 20, 2 1, 22 and 23 are colored tocorrespond with the eyes as 42 of the lantern 40, the red rod beingarranged on the same side as the red lens or eye of thelantern, and soon.

A hood 35 is adapted to fit over the lantern and to be bolted to theframe 1. This hood has arranged in the front and rear sides thereofoppositely-disposed eyes or lenses as 36 which are made about twice thesize of the eyes in the lantern and are of plain glass of doublethickness. These eyes 36 are so disposed as to be exactly opposite twoof the eyes of the lantern and are designed to expose the signal lightsof the lantern to the engineer of the train carrying the signal and tothe engineer of the following train.

In the use of this invention, the frame 1 is disposed lengthwise acrossthe top of the coach or caboose as shown in Fig. 3 with the yoke andoperating mechanism projecting into the caboose or coach a sufficientdistance to be within easy reach of the operator. To set the signal, oneof the colored rods is grasped and turned to the rear side of the yokeand the slotted hinged member is turned down thereover and locked. Whenit is wished to expose a red light at the rear, the red rod is placed inthe slotted hinged member and so on, whatever light it is wished toexpose. One hinge only is used at a time and the other may be locked inraised position out of the way.

The colors are so arranged on the eyes of the lantern that when a redand White light is exposed at the rear for the benefit oi' the trainmanoi the following train, a green light is exposed on the front of thehood to the engineer on the train carrying the signal; and When a redlight is exposed at the rear, a White light is shown in iront and theengineer of the train carrying the signal being well acquainted with thearrangement of the various colors and their meaning knows, that when a'white light is exposed tohim a red light is exposed at the rear and soon.

I claim as my invention?- 1. A train signal operating device comprisinga supporting frame, a revoluble lantern supporting plate mounted thereonand having an angular opening therein, a rod having an angular headprojecting through said opening and secured therein, a yoke dependingfrom said frame through which the lower end of said rod extends, a blocksecured to the lower end of said rod and having arms extending therefromat diametrically opposite points, and a member hinged to said yoke andprovided with means for engaging one of said arms to hold the lantern inadjusted position.

2. A train signal operating device comprising a supporting frame, arevoluble lantern supporting plate mounted thereon and having adepending collar with an angular socket extending therethrough, a rodhaving an angular head projecting through said socket and securedtherein, a yoke depending from said frame through which the lowerend ofsaid rod extends, a block secured to the lower end of said rod andhaving arms extending therefrom and a member hinged to said yoke andprovided with means for engaging one of said arms to hold the lantern inadjusted position.

P. A train signal operating device comprising a supporting frame, arevoluble lantern supporting plate mounted thereon and having an angularopening therein, a rod having an angular head projecting through saidopening and secured therein, a yoke depending from said frame throughwhich the lower end of said rod extends, a block secured to the lowerend of said rod and having arms extending therefrom at diametricallyopposite points and each being colored to correspond with an eye of thelantern to he supported on said plate, and means for locking said armsin adjusted position.

-l=. A train signal operating device comprising a supporting frame, arevoluble lantern supporting plate mounted thereon and having an angularopening therein, a rod hav ing an angular head projecting through saidopening and secured therein. a yoke depending from said frame throughwhich the lower end of said rod extends, a block secured to the lowerend of said rod and having arms extending therefrom at diametricallyopposite points, and a member hinged to said yoke and provided with aslot to fit over one of said arms for locking it in adjusted position.

A train signal operating device comprising a supporting frame, arevoluble signal supporting member mounted thereon and having adepending operating member, laterally-extending arms connected with saidoperating member, a bracket suspended from said frame, a member hingedto said bracket and provided with a slot to lit-over one of said armsfor locking the operating member in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I have .hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

ALLEN L. \VOOD.

Witnesses DIALCOLM Eas'rwoon, G. M. REDMAN.

